Friday, August 29, 2008

In June, we invited Candlelight Communications and MCCSolutions to put a high speed internet access point on our roof to give our neighbours internet access.It has been so successful that they came back yesterday to upgrade the receiver with a stronger Grid type antenna. (kinda looks like a clothes line on its side?!)

The neighbours already on the network should see faster speeds and it gives the ability to add more clients. (it also gives our Beauview guests higher speeds too)

For any of our neighbours that are interested but waiting to see if it works ... it does!contact Michel, MCCSolutions at 705-635 3473

Tuesday, August 26, 2008

You've already seen Christian in some recent posts being a scary tiger and doing wonderful artwork.

The big news is that Christian is not afraid of going in the water anymore! Last year, Christian screamed whenever he went near the water. This year, he walks in the lake, close to shore, plays on the water trampoline and swims with the help of his parents.

This year, swimming in the lake is FUN! What a great accomplishment. Congratulations Christian!

Friday, August 22, 2008

Last evening, one of our guest families went out on a cruise of Lake of Bays. They are familiar with the lake as some of them have been coming since they were children - 39 years and counting.

So what do the 39 year veterans look for when they go cruising? - Not Bigwin Island or the old resorts, Not Shania Twain's cottage... they want to see if the beavers are still here. (I told them that Frank and Gordon, the Bell Canada TV beavers, had retired from Bell and were back, but they wanted to see for themselves.)

With cameras at the ready, they first saw a blue heron on the edge of Langmaids Island, and then two loons, which they circled around to get the right lighting for photos.

Then off to the secret beaver spots but no beavers to see, just birch cuttings.

With a little more lake touring, they returned to the secret beaver spot and were rewarded with a beaver sighting and a tail slap. (This authenticates the sighting so there's no possibility that the animal was an otter or floating log.)

SEPT 19-21 Huntsville Fall FairThere will be a midway and live bands, English horse show and heavy horse pull, livestock, poultry, rabbit competitions, baby contest, cake/pie auction, and more. Sunday is Family Day! There will be a free bus to and from the fairgrounds. See you at the Fair! For more information contact the Fair Office at 705-789-9540 or huntsvillefairsecretary@hotmail.com.

SEPT 20 Shades of Autumn Antique, Classic and Custom Car ShowThe Downtown Huntsville BIA presents the Annual Shades of Autumn Antique, Classic and Custom Car ShowIf four wheels are your passion, the Annual Huntsville Antique, Classic and Custom Car Show is an adventure that will accelerate your hear rate. 250 exhibits up and down the main drag, trophies and door prizes - this is one automotive competition that you can take in on two feet. First come, first serve car registration on Main Street beginning at 7 a.m.. For more information call 705-789-1400, email huntsvillebia@bellnet.ca or visit www.huntsvilleadventures.ca

SEPT 27-28 Muskoka Autumn Studio TourThis Tour runs on September 27th to 28th. Come and celebrate our 30th anniversary as we throw our doors open to you! Explore the studios of Muskoka's celebrated artists and craftspeople. This is a free self-guided tour. For more information call 705-687-6521 or visit www.muskoka.com/tour .

October 4 Turkey Dinner and Fireworks in Port SydneyThe 56th Annual Turkey Dinner will be held at The Port Sydney Community Hall. This will be a traditional dinner with all the trimmings. There will be continuous seating from 3:30 p.m. until 7:30 p.m. The cost is $14.00 for adults and $7.00 for children 12 and under. Stay and enjoy the exciting FIREWORKS DISPLAY at dusk on the beach at 8:15 p.m. All donations are welcome. For more information and to volunteer please call Cindy at 705-385-0170 or email Jody: jodybenjamintomas@hotmail.com. All proceeds raised are for the Hall Renovation Projects.

OCT 17-19 Bala Cranberry Festival To be held at locations throughout Bala. For more information call 705-762-1564.

OCT 31 Great Pumpkin TrailThe Muskoka Heritage Place - Museum, Village, Train is having the Great Pumpkin Trail. Come to a candle-lit village for tricky treats. For more information call 705-789-7576, or visit www.muskokaheritageplace.org

Monday, August 18, 2008

Les bought a new boat but didn't tell Sue about it until they were on their way to Beauview. What a great surprise! (she thought they were renting a pontoon boat)They have been coming to Beauview for over 35 years and stay in the same cottage- no substitutes!

Mike and Linda celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary with a dinner cruise on the Segwun.Congratulations!

Thanks for staying with us again this Summer!

Here they are on their maiden voyage in the new boat. Les and Sue, Mike and Linda

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The Baysville Antique Boat Show was held on a sunny day. Food, entertainment, boats, cars and the Muskoka Wildlife came with 5 creatures for the children to see. An owl, raccoon, arctic wolf, fox snake and a skunk (descented). Everyone that comes to the show can pet the skunk!

Here's a video taken by Kevin in a kayak, of the Beauview ski boat towing Ryan on a tube. With lots of children in the boat, cheering him on.We take as many people, especially children, as we possibly can, in our boat for a ride. Sometimes the children just come for the ride and do not go tubing because they have never been in a boat before. As the week progresses, they may decide to go for a tube ride.

Gord goes very slow for the little ones and there's always at least one parent besides Gord, in the boat to keep the children safe. Sometimes the child wants to go faster faster but their mom or dad will say they have reached their limit. You can lie on the tube or sit in it.Children who try get Beauview Bob Tubing Awards.

It's a big celebration when someone goes on a tube ride or a boat ride for the first time.

Here's Catherine on her first water tubing adventure. She looks a little hesitant at first but watch for the Big Smile!The second video is her big brother Matthew, who is also tubing for the first time. A lot of firsts: first time tubing, first time in a canoe, first time fishing (and catching a fish), first time in Canada. Brilliant!

These videos were sent by email all the way from the U.K. by her daddy, Kevin. Isn't the internet wonderful!

This is the reaction we get from some people when we say we have high speed wireless internet available at Beauview. >>> Why would you want high speed internet at the cottage when you are on holidays? (other than to do work!)

In fact, for those who bring their laptop computers, there's lots of uses to enhance their holiday experience.

The first use is getting up to the minute weather. Our weather has been very changeable this Summer. When planning their day, our guests have logged on to the Environment canada website for the latest weather forecast and also the radar website which is updated every 10 minutes! On the radar website, you can see what the weather pattern has been over the last hour to see whats coming our way.

Thursday, August 7, 2008

Matthew and Catherine from England, are fishing off the long dock at Beauview. This is Matthew's first time fishing and he caught a fish right away. Now he's so intent about catching another fish that he won't look away from the bobber on the fishing line. Not even for just a second to talk to me on camera!They have a cheering section of 4 adults behind me waiting for the BIG fish.

Friday, August 1, 2008

Mid afternoon on Thursday, our parking lot had cleared out. I wondered where everyone went.? Within the hour, the cars had returned so I walked around to see what was happening.

On the cottage decks, people were enjoying freshly baked butter tarts from the local bakery in Baysville. The butter tarts had just come out of the oven. They had timed their visit just right! (And they didn't want me to take their picture with buttertart all over their faces!)